Agents of the Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP), through the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and the Enforcement and Security Service-Quick Response Team (ESS-QRT), together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and the National Intelligence and Security Force (NISF), inspected several warehouses of sugar in Meycauayan, Bulacan on September 8, 2022.
The Commissioner issued nine Letters of Authority and Mission Orders against the owners, representatives, or whoever is in possession of the imported goods stored in the warehouses.
Found during the inspection were 11,717 sacks of local sugar with assorted brands and 50,182 sacks of Mithr Phol Pure Refined Sugar from Thailand in B3L5 Kendex Drive, Polyland Industrial Subdivision; and 60,876 sacks of imported sugar with assorted brands from Thailand at Edison Lee Mktg Dazo Compound.
Another 1,860 sacks of Mithr Phol Pure Refined Sugar from Thailand were found in Olympia Street, Sterling Industrial Park; while 62,734 of locally produced sugar with assorted brands, as well as kitchenwares and GM products, were found in Copper Street, Muralla Industrial Park.
Goods found at the subject sugar storage warehouses are estimated to be at Php 936 million.
Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) representatives did not join in the implementation of LOAs but were present during the inventory to determine if the locally packed sugar are indeed locally produced since derogatory reports state that said smuggled sugar are repacked to be local.
The owners or representatives of the warehouse are given 15 days to present necessary documents as proof that the subject goods are legally imported into the country. The team continuously guarded said warehouses pending the submission of documents.
“We have to be on our toes 24 hours 7 days a week. You will see that our teams have been operating round the clock, even on weekends. This shows the determination of this administration in making accountable the groups that could be helping this sugar crisis blow out of proportion,” said Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.
The operation is part of the marching orders to the Bureau of Customs of the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to inspect warehouses alleged of hoarding sugar amidst the sugar supply crisis in the country.
